YV extends Joint Commission accreditation ... 3

Atlanta area youth help keep Inner Harbour beautiful ... 7

Meet a Georgia YV Scholar ... 3

Family Victories from Youth Villages Georgia Summer 2014

Dakota, family fought for one more chanceWritten off by many, Dakota proves that no child is a lost cause — page 4

Happy, Hopeful, Proud!Caring Atlanta friends host exciting evening to benefit Youth Villages — page 5

2 Summer 2014 n New Heights n Georgia

A message from our directors

Transforming the lives of Georgia’s children

Our staff in Atlanta and at Youth Villages-Inner Harbour are accomplishing

amazing things. Their compassion and dedication are helping many of our

vulnerable youth overcome adversity and thrive. But we also learn there is so

much more to a child’s success than just an attentive counselor.

It takes everyone being committed and totally bought in to helping a child

succeed, including our community and the child’s family.

Michelle was told to give up on trying to help Dakota, her son, who was

being forced to cope with a very complicated and traumatic situation. At an

age ill-equipped to cope with a lingering tragedy, Dakota turned to what he

did know — drugs and alcohol. He also began breaking the law. No previous

rehabilitation attempt had worked, but Michelle kept fighting for her son.

Her persistence finally paid off when he was admitted to Youth Villages-Inner

Harbour.

Dakota’s back home and doing well, but it was because of the staff, Dakota’s

family and our volunteers who made his success possible. And Dakota’s not

the only one. There are countless other children who benefit from this valuable

service.

Whether you volunteer to spruce up the campus or help in another way,

every effort plays a part in helping children in our programs. It shows children

something they may not have seen before — compassion, service and caring.

Thank you to the many who come out to volunteer and also those who

support Youth Villages. Your generosity helps ensure we will be able to help

future children like Dakota for many years to come.

Thanks again for supporting Youth Villages.

David M. Albano

Kenneth A. Campbell

Robert F. Clayton

Rick Crain

Marietta Davis*

Robert A. Douglass

J. Todd Giles

Lynn Goldman

Archie L. Jones Jr.

Karole Lloyd*

Dara Mann

Robert L. Rearden III

Julie Seitz

Co-chair

Carolyn Stefanco

Matthew F. Tarkenton*

Chairman

David Tyler*

*member of Youth Villages’ national board of directors

GEORGIA BOARD

YOUTH VILLAGESBOARD OF DIRECTORSBryan Jordan

Chairman

Jimmy Lackie

Vice Chairman

Matthew F. Tarkenton

Secretary

Paul Bower

Treasurer

Jim Barton Jr.

Eric Bolton

Marietta Davis

Judith Edge

Nicholas R. Ehlen

Jack A. Eiferman

Bill Giles

Willie Gregory

Joanna Jacobson

Karole Lloyd

Mark Medford

Johnny Pitts

H. Patterson Ritz

Michael Rose

Richard W. Talkov

Scotland Thede

David Tyler

Chairman Emeritus:

Mike Bruns

Atlanta

GeorgiaDouglasville

Emily Acker and Kate Cantrell

Kate CantrellDirector of Programs-Georgia1777 Northeast Expressway NE, Suite 150Atlanta, GA 30329404-320-2957kate.cantrell@youthvillages.org

Emily AckerDirector of Residential Programs-Georgia4685 Dorsett Shoals RoadDouglasville, GA 30135770-852-6298emily.acker@youthvillages.org

Summer 2014 n New Heights n Georgia 3

GEORGIAPROGRAM SUCCESS

The graph above represents the status of Georgia youth at six months after discharge through June 2013. Figures include only youth who received at least 60 days of service and reflect a response rate of 61 percent.

OutcomesAt six-month follow-upAt six month follow up

0

20

40

60

80

100

72% 74%

94%

At hom

e with fam

ily

In school or graduated

No involvem

entw

ith the law

*82.7% of youth were in state custody at admission to the program.Program Success

As a national leader in the field of behavioral health, Youth Villages has measured outcomes of children and families participating in its programs since 1994.

Brandy is Youth Villages’ first YV

Scholar from Georgia. She is a senior

at The University of West Georgia,

studying early childhood education.

The YV Scholars program gives extra

support to young people participating

in Youth Villages’ transitional living

program who show strong academic

potential. They receive financial aid for

school provided they maintain academic

and community service requirements.

“We’re proud of Brandy and what she’s been able to ac-

complish,” said Kamah Mowenn-Harmon, Youth Villages

TL specialist. “YV Scholars is a great program supported

by our donors, and we’re all thrilled to see how well

Brandy’s doing.”

JOINT COMMISSION ACCREDITATION CONTINUEDYouth Villages Georgia will continue its accreditation

by The Joint Commission following a successful survey.

The accreditation means Youth Villages went through a

comprehensive audit of patient safety, records, finances,

building and grounds, to name a few.

“It’s the gold standard of accreditation,” said Emily

Acker, Youth Villages director of residential programs.

“It recognizes Youth Villages for its best practices in

meeting about 6,000 standards related to caring for chil-

dren, families, volunteers and staff. It means we meet the

highest standard of care.”

An independent, not-for-profit organization, The Joint

Commission accredits and certifies more than 20,000

health care organizations and programs in the United

States. Joint Commission accreditation and certification

are recognized nationwide as a symbol of quality that re-

flects an organization’s commitment to meeting certain

performance standards.

Youth Villages earned its first accreditation from The

Joint Commission in 1986.

BRANDY IS GEORGIA’S FIRST YV SCHOLAR

Brandy

TL PROGRAM MAKING A DIFFERENCEYouth Villages’ transitional living program was named

one of 15 local, state and national youth- and family-serving

initiatives making a critical difference in the lives of youth

in foster care by the Center for the Study of Social Policy, a

national organization based in Washington, D.C.

The program, pioneered in Tennessee and now serving

youth in five other states including Georgia, was recog-

nized because of its commitment to building qualities that

help young people – particularly those in the child welfare

system – mitigate or eliminate risk and promote healthy

development and well-being. Since 1999, it has helped

more than 6,000 former foster children make a successful

transition to adulthood.

Approximately 26,000 young adults age out of foster care

every year in the United States.

National studies have found that, with limited resources

and supports, these young people are more likely than

their peers to end up homeless or incarcerated and less

likely to have a job or go to college.

In contrast, even two years after completing Youth Villag-

es’ transitional living program, about 80 percent of partici-

pants are living independently or with family; are in school,

graduated or employed; and are crime free.

4 Summer 2014 n New Heights n Georgia

Michelle was told Dakota was a lost

cause — her son, 17, was hopeless,

abusing drugs and alcohol and break-

ing the law.

In fact, Dakota amassed 20 crimi-

nal charges in four months, including

theft, drug possession, vandalism and

other charges.

Today, Dakota is completing his

junior year of high school and on track

to graduate.

But this story is as much about a

mother’s perseverance as well as

Dakota’s decision to change his life.

It’s about the transformation a fam-

ily made in response to tragic events

and dire choices. Dakota’s father had

a severe motorcycle accident when

Dakota was 12 and he was left in a veg-

etative state. Michelle had dual duties

of raising a teenager and taking care

of Dakota’s father, and it took the ten-

sion in the home to extreme levels.

“Dakota was on the wrong path

and we couldn’t pull him out,” Dave,

Michelle’s fiancé, said.

“Dakota was very close to his father,

and when that happened he kind of

went off the deep end,” Michelle said.

“He went to three different rehabilita-

tion centers and spent time in juvenile

detention.”

None of the rehabilitation attempts

worked. His alcohol and drug abuse

were spiraling out of control, even ac-

cidentally overdosing a few times.

Dakota’s admission to Youth Villag-

es-Inner Harbour Campus was a final

shot. It was either Youth Villages-In-

ner Harbour or jail. It took the efforts

of Michelle, Dakota’s probation officer

and others to get him admitted.

“I think Michelle blamed herself for

a lot of Dakota’s behaviors and choic-

es,” said Shereka Shaw, Inner Harbour

therapist who worked with the family.

“She fought to get Dakota the assis-

tance and treatment he needed and

honestly identified her needs as well.”

Through intensive therapy in a safe

environment, Dakota found posi-

tive outlets for his feelings. He went

through 7 Challenges, a drug and

alcohol program for adolescents. He

helped other youth. Most importantly,

he saw where he was headed and de-

cided to change. Through therapy and

trust-building sessions, Dakota saw his

mother as a support.

“It felt good knowing that Mom had

my back,” Dakota said. “I didn’t have

to carry it all myself.”

“Dakota had a willingness to change

that I hadn’t seen before,” Shereka

said. “Other youth are constantly

asking about discharge, not worrying

about what they need to change or ac-

cepting responsibility for their actions.

Dakota would tell me, ‘I don’t want to

go home until everybody believes I am

ready. I don’t want to continue doing

the same things and making the same

choices.’”

He went home for a weekend and

then decided that he was ready. He

plays basketball and was even fea-

tured on the sports section front of the

local newspaper. He cares about his

appearance, and although 17, carries

himself with a wisdom brought only

through overcoming something so

difficult.

“The accident caused Dakota to

grow up faster than most,” Shereka

said. “But he’s learned to communi-

cate with his mother and talk things

through.”

On the day he was discharged, Da-

kota visited his probation officer and

showed her his djembe, a drum used

as part of therapy at Inner Harbour,

which he still practices. He then went

home and ate dinner with his family.

He’s since had all his juvenile charges

dismissed and is off probation. He’s

not sure what he will do after high

school, maybe train to be a motorcycle

mechanic or attend college.

“Shereka was wonderful and good

for Dakota,” Michelle said. “I believe

Youth Villages-Inner Harbour saved

his life.”

DAKOTA MAKES THE MOST OF HIS LAST SHOT

The Youth Villages-Inner Harbour Campus

offers a therapeutic environment for seriously troubled children. The campus

includes a lake, a sports field, ropes course, hiking trails, climbing wall and

playgrounds for recreational activities. Our goal is to return children to a less restrictive

environment to continue their progress through intensive in-home services, with

their family when possible, or therapeutic foster care when it is not.

Dakota, center, with his moth-er, Michelle, and her fiancé, Dave. Michelle said Youth Villages-Inner Harbour saved Dakota’s life.

Summer 2014 n New Heights n Georgia 5

HAPPY HOPEFUL PROUD!Youth Villages hosted a star-studded gala at the home of event chair Rick Baker in Atlanta April 26. Happy, Hopeful, Proud at-tracted some new Atlanta friends to meet such honored guests as Pattie Boyd, Neal Preston, Fredricka Whitfield, Karyn Greer and Bo Jackson and bid on iconic rock ‘n’ roll photographs on exhibit at the famous Morrison Hotel Gallery in New York. Money raised at the event benefits Youth Villages’ programs in the greater Atlanta area.

6 Summer 2014 n New Heights n Georgia

YV Pillar($25,000 to $49,999)The Coca-Cola FoundationThe Sartain Lanier Family FoundationUnited Way of Greater Atlanta

YV Leader($10,000 to $24,999)Catlin Insurance Company Inc.Credit Suisse Americas FoundationMarilyn Cox Douglas Charitable FoundationJohn and Mary Franklin FoundationThe Rich Foundation

YV Builder($1,000 to $9,999)Mr. David AlbanoAT&T FoundationMr. and Mrs. Kenneth CampbellMrs. Liz CannonMr. Edwin CookMs. Marietta DavisMr. and Mrs. Robert DouglassMr. and Mrs. Ronnie GoldmanThe Goodendorf Family FundMr. and Mrs. George H. JohnsonKiwanis Foundation of Atlanta Inc.Mr. Gregory McClainMr. Gene McClureMcKenna Long & AldridgeMendicino Family FoundationMicrosoft Matching Gifts ProgramOutdoor FoundationMs. Cynthia Parks/Parks IP LawPittman Family FoundationPrudential Foundation Matching GiftsRealan Foundation Inc.Ms. Carolyn StefancoMr. and Mrs. Matthew TarkentonTull Charitable FoundationMr. and Mrs. David TylerWalmart FoundationJoseph B. Whitehead FoundationWhole Kids FoundationYouth Service America

Friend of Youth Villages(up to $999)Mr. Thomas AdgerMr. and Mrs. M. AllenMr. and Mrs. Anthony AlperMs. Mary AmoryMr. and Mrs. David ArmitageAtlanta Women’s ClubMs. Ghislaine AustinAvondale Education Association Inc.Mr. and Mrs. Stephen BaconBarnes Distribution

Ms. Kelley BasingerMs. Katya BattleCollen BeardMs. Claire BeckMr. Tim BegleyMs. Lindsay BeltonMs. Elizabeth BerryMs. Erika BirgMs. Kari BjorhusMrs. Jennifer BlasingameMr. John BoriaMr. Kevin BradyBreakthrough Business Solutions LLCMs. Joellen BringardnerMs. Janet BrodieMr. George BruceMs. Sharon BurnetteMs. Laverne CalvertMr. David CantorMr. John CarpenterMr. Walter CarterMr. Richard ChrismerMr. and Mrs. Robert ClaytonMr. Nicholas ClendeninMr. and Mrs. Earl ClimeMr. Philip ClinchMs. Tarisha CockrellMr. Stockton CroftMr. Doug DavidsonMr. Alan DavisMs. Claudia DayMr. David DelaneyMr. Timothy DodMs. Julie DossMr. Cornelius DoyleEarthShare Chapters GeorgiaMs. Bernadette FaberMr. Robert FarrellyMs. Lisa FeyFirst Baptist Church of DouglasvilleMr. Geoffrey FishmanMs. Mary Ann FraundorfMs. Christy FultonMr. Joe GoldenMs. Regina GreenMr. Lesley GuyotMrs. Jennifer GuytonMrs. Connie HayesMr. Billy HendrixMSgt. Harry Hengel, USAF Ret.Ms. Tonya HenryMiss Zulna HeriscarMrs. Marie HicksMr. Jeff HilimireMs. Sylvia HillMr. Bert HixsonMr. Mark HorncastleMr. Eddie HudsonMr. and Mrs. Jonathan HulganMr. and Mrs. Christopher HunterMr. Elliott HutchinsonMr. Brandon JacksonMr. Jimmy JamesMs. Linda JavadiMr. James JaxonMrs. Carolyn JenkinsMr. Christopher JennyMr. James Johnson

Ms. Lorraine JohnsonMrs. Peggy JohnsonMr. Thomas JohnstonMr. Archie JonesKaBOOM!/Dr Pepper Snapple GroupMr. John KallisMr. Robert KaremMr. Michael KeenerMs. Geri KellyKey Maintenance Supply Inc.Ms. Nancy KingMr. Krunch KloberdanzMs. Sandra KoslowMr. and Mrs. Kenneth KurschMr. Hollis LamonMs. Lillian LandMs. Meredith LeapleyThe Ledlie GroupMr. William LevineMs. Deborah Lewis-SpencerDr. Betty LumbyMr. Michael MalloyMs. Melissa MarleyMr. and Mrs. Nick MarshallMs. Maggie McCartyMr. John McCollumMs. Rebekah McCorveyMs. Nancy S. McGarryMr. Thomas McLarenMr. Barry McWhirterMs. Jennifer MedlinMs. Diane MercerMs. Lynn MerrillMitchell Family FundMs. Adrienne MittonsMr. and Mrs. Walter MoelingMr. Henry MoogMt. Zion United Methodist WomenMs. Helen MuirheadMr. Mickki MurrayMr. Eugene NicholsonMr. Perry NicodemusMr. John O’HaraMrs. Hallie OlsenMs. Rhonda PageMr. and Mrs. Robert PalumboMr. and Mrs. Clyde ParkisMr. Al PetrangeliMr. Tom PierceMs. Jennifer QueenMr. Ruben RabadanMr. Stephen RaeberMr. Robert L. Rearden IIIMr. Thomas ReganMr. and Mrs. Kyle ReiniDr. Martha RiderMr. Phil RingoMr. Brent RobbinsMs. Gladys RodriguezMrs. Patience RubyorMr. Stanley SampsonMr. and Mrs. Don ScarbroughMr. Carl SchuesslerMr. Chase ScottMr. Ted ScovillMs. Julie SeitzMs. Lucylle SheltonMr. Gordon Sherman

M. SilveiraMr. Dashiell SmithMr. David SmithMr. Gregory SmithSmyrna Optimist ClubMr. Cecil SnyderMr. and Mrs. Stephen SorgMs. Sarah SprinkleMs. Jamie SteuerMs. Wendy StrassnerMr. Mark SullivanMrs. Elizabeth SummerhillMrs. Stanley TateMr. Stephen TerrellMs. Frankie TesterMr. Philip Theodore and Ms. Beth LanierMr. Andrew ThompsonMs. Vicki TrambleTransport Services Inc.Truist Altruism ConnectedMs. Marjorie TurnbullMs. Dima TurpinMs. Carrie VibergMs. Constance ViscoMr. Michael WadeMr. Jamie WallDr. James WallaceMrs. T. WalravenMs. Patricia WalshMs. Adrienne WhiteheadMr. John WielandMr. Chris WilliamsRev. Joseph Zawada

Youth Villages Georgia welcomes J. Todd Giles, Carolyn Stefanco and Dara Mann, above, to the local board. Giles is managing director at BMO Harris Bank. Stefanco is a history and women’s studies professor at Agnes Scott College, where she is also dean of the college and vice president of academic affairs. Mann is a partner at the law firm of McKenna Long & Aldridge LLP.

Dara Mann

Thank you for supporting Youth Villages. The following donors made gifts to Youth Villages between Jan. 1 and Dec. 31, 2013. The board of directors and staff of Youth Villages gratefully acknowledge these thoughtful contributions. If you made a contribution during this time but it is not listed, please call 404-320-2967.

Summer 2014 n New Heights n Georgia 7

There are numerous ways to help. Mentor,

volunteer or financially donate to our programs.

Your support can have a direct impact on the

future of the children we help every day in

Georgia. Please call or e-mail Youth Villages to

find out how to help.

JOIN OUR EFFORTS Become a force for families

1777 Northeast Expressway NE, Suite 150

Atlanta, GA 30329

404-320-2920

Whether you’re planning

such a gift as writing a will or

setting up a trust for Youth

Villages, we have a portion of

our website devoted to dona-

tions and planned giving.

It contains information

that may be valuable to you.

Simply go to youthvillages.

org/plannedgiving and you’re

there.

You will find an introduction to planned giv-

ing, and a category titled “How Can I ...,” which

lists all the vehicles included in a plan, including

wills and bequests, gifts of appreciated stock or

gifts of real estate. In addition, there is a section

on “why do I need a will,” a glossary of terms, an

estate intention form and much more. For infor-

mation, please contact Steve Benskin at 901-251-

5000 or e-mail steve.benskin@youthvillages.org.

Thinking of a planned gift?

Steve Benskin

Stay in touch online

www.facebook.com/youthvillages

www.twitter.com/youthvillages

youthvillages.wordpress.com

www.youthvillages.org

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KEEPING INNER HARBOUR BEAUTIFULMany in our community volunteer at Youth Villages-Inner Harbour, in-cluding AT&T, Parks IP Law, Credit Suisse and families and staff from The Westminster Schools and Pace Academy (photos).

The Coca-Cola Founda-

tion helped kick off Project

EmpowHER with the girls

in the Douglas Center at

Youth Villages-Inner Har-

bour. Project EmpowHER is

a significant enhancement

to the existing recreational,

experiential and exercise

therapy programs at Inner

Harbour.

Win Cook, associate at

Bryan Cave LLP, led efforts

last year to get holiday gifts

and donations for Holiday

Heroes to help ensure the

girls in the Douglas Center

at Youth Villages-Inner Har-

bour were able to enjoy the

holidays.

Ninth-grade students

from Pace Academy at-

tended Youth Villages-Inner

Harbour Campus for a day

of service and learning.

Students participated in

campus beautification and

participated in team-build-

ing activities with youth par-

ticipating in Inner Harbour

programs.

Through the Our Family

Campaign, Youth Villages’

employees donated more

than $1 million to benefit

Youth Villages’ programs.

Youth Villages in Georgia

contributed more than

$58,000.

Youth Villages Georgia’s

Holiday Heroes program

was a big success. More

than $31,000 was donated

to help ensure Atlanta-area

children in Youth Villages’

programs and children at

Inner Harbour received

holiday gifts. The money also

supported additional holiday

activities, birthday celebra-

tions and field trips through-

out the year.

For their years of service

on the local board, thank

you to Lynn Merrill and Ken

Campbell.

THANK YOU FOR HELPING OUR KIDS

YOUTH VILLAGES1777 Northeast Expressway NE, Suite 150 Atlanta, GA 30329(Address Service Requested)

NONPROFIT ORGU.S. POSTAGE

PAIDYOUTH VILLAGES

Please e-mail james.waddey@youthvillages.org or call 404-320-2967to have your name removed from our mailing list.

New Heights Georgia is published by Youth Villages

Founded in 1986, Youth Villages is a leading national nonprofit dedicated to providing the most effective local solutions to help emotionally and behaviorally troubled children and their families live successfully. We help more than 22,000 children and families each year from more than 20 states and Washington, D.C. Youth Villages’ Evidentiary Family Restoration™ approach involves intensive work with the child and family, a focus on measuring outcomes, keeping children in the community whenever safely possible, and providing unprecedented accountability to families and funders.

A private nonprofit organization, Youth Villages serves more than22,000 children and their families from offices in the following cities:Alabama: Auburn, Birmingham, DothanArkansas: Jonesboro, Little RockFlorida: Lakeland, MiamiGeorgia: Atlanta, DouglasvilleIndiana: Bloomington, Columbus, Jasper, Jeffersonville, MadisonMassachusetts: Arlington, Lawrence, Plymouth, Springfield, Woburn, WorcesterMississippi: Biloxi, Greenwood, Hattiesburg, Hernando, Jackson, TupeloNew Hampshire: ManchesterNorth Carolina: Asheville, Boone, Charlotte, Concord, Greensboro, Greenville, Pinehurst, Raleigh-Durham, WaynesvilleOregon: PortlandTennessee: Chattanooga, Clarksville, Columbia, Cookeville, Dickson, Dyersburg, Jackson, Johnson City,Knoxville, Linden, Memphis, Morristown, Nashville, ParisWashington, D.C.